Traveling-bag fastener.



No. 658,945. l Patented ont. 2. |900. B.- F. uu sols.

TBAVELING. BAG FASTENEB.

(Application med Feb. 27, 1900.\

'No Model.)

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UNITED 'STATES `Pnrlia'r OFFICE.'

BENJAMIN F. DU BOIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

TRAVELING-BAG FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,945, dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed February 27, 1900. Serial No. 6,741. (No model.)

T0 all whom zit may concern/ Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. DU BOIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traveling-Bag Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.A

This invention relates to an improvement in traveling-bag fasteners; and it is embodied in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Heretofore in the usual construction of traveling and hand bags it has been largely the custom to position the locking or fastening devices on the upper surface of one of the frames and to have at opposite ends suitable turning clamps, which when turned embrace the two frames to hold them together. Such constructions have been objectionable in that it necessitates placing all the fastening means on the outside,where they are often broken or damaged, and it has been long sought to avoid these objections; but as far as I am aware up to the present time a structure has not been devised to overcome the same.

The object of my invention is to largely avoid the necessity of placing the fastening devices on the outside of the frame, and it relates, primarily, to mechanism located and carried on the under side of the frame for fastening the frames both at the center and at the ends, and so at one operation.

With this end in view the construction for carrying out the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings; but the forms,de tails, and proportions may be vastly changed without departing from the nature and principle of the invention. v

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the fastening-carrying frame and showing the companion frame as opened and in elevation and also showing the front plate of the boxing removed. Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the frames closed and a satchel or bag in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line a; :t of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, A designates a satchel, which may be of any convenient or preferred form.

B designates a locking-frame, and O the catch-frame,the terms locking and catch being used for convenience in this specification.

The frame B is of the usual type, consisting of a top plate having its outer edge bent down, las at b, and its ends curved. This platev has a central opening therein and is otherwise im perfor-ate, except for suitable rivet-holes in the flange portion. Secured to the under side of the frame, conveniently by rivets b', is a box D, which extends longitudinally and substantially from one end of the frame to the other. This box depends downward and has a front plate D'.

E designates a locking-bar extending substantially from one end of the box to the other and located therein. This lockingebar is provided on its upper edge with a plurality of catches e, having their outer faces inclined, as shown in Fig. 2. The catches are rigid extensions of the locking-bar and extend above the upper edge. They are normally held against the under side of the frame-plate B by a spring or springs F. This spring F is conveniently bow shape, having curved ends, on which the locking-bar rests. The spring is conveniently secured in position by a rivet f, passing through the bottom plate of the box. The tendency of the springF is at all times to elevate the bar and bring the catches in cont-act with the plate B. Oentrally between the inner catches of thebar is a pin G, extending up through an opening in the plate B and having its outer end provided with a suitable knob or thumb-piece. The length of this pin is sufficient to extend a distance above the plate B, so that when the pin is depressed the locking-bar will be forced down a considerable distance below the plane of the plate B. The frame C is provided with a'depending flange c in the usual manner, and it has formed in its flat surface eyes or openings c', each of a size to permit the passage therethrough of the catches of the lockingbar. The plate has also an elongated openended slot c2 at its center registering with the pin on the locking-bar, so that as the plate is forced in the pin will enter the slot. To permit the outer walls of the slots in the plate C to project beyond or in front of the catches on the locking-bar, the catches are conveniently located at the edge of the bar, as shown in Fig. 3, and at such a position that there is just room enough for the outer Wall of the slot to engage behind the catches.

The sides of the bag are secured by rivets to the anges of the plates in the usual manner. It will therefore be seen that the top of the frame of the bag is entirely unoccupied, presenting a smooth even surface with the exception of a central knob, and in operating it is only necessary to press the two frames together, the frame C engaging the inclined catches of the locking-bar, forcing the bar downward against the tension of the spring until the catches register With the openings in the frame. The spring thereupon immediately forces the catches into the opening and the frames are locked in position. The unlocking is accomplished by pressing down on the thumb-piece. It will be noticed that the construction involves a minimum number of parts and is in itself a rigid, simple, and effective arrangement and construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a traveling-bag, the combination with two frames, an elongated boxing secured on the under side of one of the frames and eX- tending substantially from end to end thereof, of a rigid locking-bar located within the boxing and having a plurality of upwardlyextending catch projections on its upper edge having inclined faces and the opposite frame member having a series of openings registering with said catch projections and arranged to engage the same when the frames are brought together and means extending beyond the frames for actuating the lockingbar, substantially as described.

2. In a traveling-bag, the combination with two frame-pieces, an elongated box on the under side of one of the frames, an elongated spring-pressed locking-bar located Within the box having catch projections at its ends and center, and the companion frame having a series of openings therein arranged to register with the catch projectionson the lockingbar, and an actuating projection extending above the bar, substantially as described.

3. In a traveling-bag, the combination with the frames, a box secured to the under side of one of the frames and extending substantially the length thereof, a spring-actuated locking-bar located Within the box and extending substantially the length of the box, inclined catches on the upper edge of the bar spaced apart and located at or near the ends and center, an actuating device extending above the frame and a companion frame having a series of openings therein registering with said catch projections, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. DU BOIS.

Witnesses: f

D. G. STUART, L. S. BACON. 

